New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-15
I4ROR IND LYING.

meeting of the American Association lor thc
Advancement Of Science, critlcises Mr.. Ed,
ward Atkinson's statistics with kcenness ana
calls the attention of scientific men to tho
oycrshadowing importance OF the LABOR
problem But it IS not clear that Mr.. Atkln-
son Is not closer to the truth, in spite OF
some important errors, than his ablo crlac.
According to Professor James, MIR. Atkinson s
estimate of wages is based, not upon the sum
actually received by workers, but upon inc
amounts they would have received II they had
worked 800 days in the year. The differ
ence is material; Professor James states tha'
it amounts TO no less than rs days in tho
wear. The coal mines keep men actually al
work less than 200 days; woollen manu-
facturers keep their hands ut work only 2oO
DAYS glass workers usually take two months
for idleness, and other illustrations OF like
character go TO prove that the average OF
wages received falls much short of the sum
that would be paid for 800 days work at tho
current rate. Professor James notices that
Mr.. Atkinson's estimate OF the cost OF living
l. subject to no such deduction, but covers
onv needful expenses, with no allowance for
education, recreation or comfort Yet his
figures would imply n cost Of about 5000
for each family of five persons. That would
mean. Professor James says about 81 per
dav for year of 300 full days. with no de-
duction for sickness, for loss Of time by
strikes, stoppages, or for recreation. The IN
ference IMPLIED is that the workers do not IN
fact earn enough 10 support families in com
fort. II many workers get more than 81
per dav. these almost without exception lose
moro days during the year than others.
There is short way to determine abso-
utcly which OF these lines OF reasoning Is
tho more correct Facts settle the question:
The workingmcn Of this country do live
and do support families. and most OF them
live in comfort unknown In other lands.
large proportion Of them do come TO own
their homes, and n large proportion also
save money, as records Of savings banks and
building associations prove beyond dispute.
Many thousand cases Of want and suffering
can be found and every humane or patriotic
man must heartily wish they were fewer. But
tho fact remains, and neither Professor james
nor Mr.. Atkinson could successfully dispute
il II no should try, that the vast majority OF
workers in this country do 1.-Two In compara-
tive comfort upon their earnings, and most OF
them save something besides, and in addition
they spend considerable sums not included in
the estimates Of the economists They do
provide some schooling for many OF their
children. They do read a great many papers
and books They do have many comforts and
luxurics in their homes. They do attend
amuscments occasionally in cities and towns
as every one can see for himself if he takes
the trouble. Besides, they do spend con-
siderable part of the enormous sum paid every
year for liquors and tobacco.
II theories do not fit these facts, so much
the worse for the theories. Every man who
has an eye can see that the cases of want
suffering and pinching poverty, numerous and
dcplorablc as they are, do not in this country
represent the condition of the majority Oh
laborcrs The majority, in fact the largo
majority, do earn more than the bare cost OF
living, with a measure Of comfort not known
TO labor in other lands they do spend con-
siderable surplus, and while some spend it
unwisely, many also wisely save part OF the
whole and thus considerable number Of the
laborcrs do actually become capitalists,
owners of their homes, or employers h labor.
These arc facts and Mr.. Atkinson's theory
as TO the relation between wages and the cost
of living though not faultlcSs, more nearly
fits the facts than do the more gloomy reason
ings Of Professor James.